Plaster shield for inclosed switches



Dec, 3Q,

B. E. GETCHELL PLASTER SHIELD FOR INCLOSED SWITCHES Filed Oct. 14, 1922INVENTOR eiaizazfl 35 dle to Patented Dec. 30, 1924.

UNITED STATES 1,521,553 PATENT OFFICE.

BENJAMIN E. GETCHELL, OF PLAINVILLE, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE TRUM-BULL ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF PLAINVILLE, CONNECTICUT, A

CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT.

PLASTER SHIELD FO'R INGLOSED SWITCHES.

Application filed October 14, 1922. Serial No. 59%,474.

Z '0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN E. GET- oHELL, a citizen of the UnitedStates of America, residing at Plainville, Connecticut, have invented anew and useful Plaster Shield for Inclosed Switches, of which thefollowing is a specification.

Electric switches for controlling house lighting circuits are usuallylocated in the cellar or basement where they are inconspicuous, but insome constructions such for instance as houses and cottages of thebungalow type, there are no cellars and it is therefore desirable toconceal the conduits and switches as much as possible in the walls. Asuflicient clearance must, of course, be left for the operating memberor handle which is usually at the side of the box. As

a considerable part of the handle is thus let into the wall, a meansshould be provided to guard the normal operating path of the handle.

In other instances, the switch may be mounted on the surface of a .,wallor post, or

perhaps on some part of a machine and in all cases it is very desirableto guard the external part of the handle particularly ad- 'acent thebearing so that nothing can get into its path of movement.

The main object of my invention is to provide a construction which willguard or shield the operating handle and prevent the entrance of plasteror other forei matter into the normal operating path 0 the hanpreventinterference with its operation.

Another object of m invention is to provide a means for guar ing theexternal part of the operating handle so that nothing can be set orplaced in a position to interfere with the normal operation of theswitch.

Figure l'is a erspective view of an inclosed switch em odying theimprovements of my invention.

Fig. 2 shows a fragmentary section of wall with my improved constructioninstalled.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one form of shield member.

Fig. 4c is a pers ective view of another form of shield mem er.

The switch mechanism proper is mounted in some form of box or receptacleconsisting of a body 6 and a cover 7 The cover is usu- 'metal or formedof cast metal.

ally hinged at one edge for instance, the edge 8 and is usually providedwith a flange which overstands the body of the box as herein indicated.A

The switch mechanism proper may be of any suitable type having anexterior operating handle 9 of any suitable form. The handle usuallyswings along side one edge of the box to operate the switch and open andclose the circuit. When the switch box is mounted in the wall the coverand outer end of the handle are left exposed.

The shield or guard for the handle may be in any suitable form forinstance, it may have inclined sides 10 and 11 and an. outer wall 12..The sides 10 and 11 may be secured to the body of the box in anysuitable manner as for instance by riveting or welding. In the formshown in Figs. 2 and 3 flanges 13, are provided which serve to stiffenthe shield as well as to afford means of connection to the box. Thisshield is so shaped and located as to permit free operation of thehandle of the switch, to keep plaster and dirt away from the journal ofthe handle and afford a permanent wall adjacent the handle. This alsoacts as a stop to limit the throw of the handle. The shield may also beprovided withan extension ear 14: having a hole for a padlock or otherlocking device. The shield may also be provided with an opening 15 for asealin wire. 7

When the switch is installed during the construction of the house itwould be fastened in place and lath or plaster erected around it. Whenthe installation occurs after a house is complete a hole would be cut inthe wall sufficiently large to admit the switch box and the shield.After the switch is installed the wall would be repaired around the boxand the shield. The outer edge of the shield is preferably approximatelyon the plane of the edge of the cover so that when the box is set to itsmaximum depth in the wall the edge of the shield will be substantiallyflush with the outer surface of the wall.

The shield may be formed in various ways for instance, by being blankedand bent out of sheet. metal or drawn from sheet In Fig. at I have showna somewhat difi'erent shape of shield with lugs 16 and 17 adapted to beinserted into slots in the side of the box for the purpose of securingthe shield in place.

Various other modifications may be made in the shape and arrangement ofthis shield within the scope of my invention.

I claim 1. An inclosed switch construction comprising a box open at thefront, a cover for the front of said box, a switch inclosed in said boxand having an external operating handle at one side of said box, and aplaster shield secured to a side of the box around the axis ofsaidhandle.

2. An inclosed switch construction comprising a switch box open at thefront, a

' cover having flanges overlapping the front edges of the box, anoperating handle extending from one side, of the box, and a plastershield for the handle at the side of the box in rear of a flange'of thecover.

3. An inclosed switch construction comrising a box 0 en at the front, acover iiinged to one si e of the box and covering the front opening, aswitch handle pivoted to swing along the side of thebox opposite thehinge of the cover and a plaster shield secured to the side of the boxand forming a pocket around the pivotal part of the handle in rear ofthe cover.

4. A. construction of the character described comprising a switch box,means for securing the rear of said box within a wall, 'said box beingopen at the front and having edges adapted to project beyond the outersurface of a wall, a switch mounted within said box, an operating membermounted in BENJAMIN E. eriTcHELL.

